We had a strange Winter, hot, then cold, then back again. I have never trimmed my oleanders as I want them to hide an ugly fence. I did take off all the dried leaves, but even though the branches are flexible, there are no leaves to date. Everyone says that I need to cut them to the ground and start over, but I am afraid it might kill these that are about 10 years old and then it would take 10 more years for them to grow to their original height. What should I do?